Thinking in systems

A Primer

by Donella H. Meadows, Diana Wright

Narrated by Tia Rider; runtime 6h

English language

Published July 19, 2018

ISBN:: 978-1-60358-847-8
OCLC Number:: 1050871427

(59 reviews)

Meadows’ Thinking in Systems, is a concise and crucial book offering insight for problem solving on scales ranging from the personal to the global. Edited by the Sustainability Institute’s Diana Wright, this essential primer brings systems thinking out of the realm of computers and equations and into the tangible world, showing readers how to develop the systems-thinking skills that thought leaders across the globe consider critical for 21st-century life.

Some of the biggest problems facing the world—war, hunger, poverty, and environmental degradation—are essentially system failures. They cannot be solved by fixing one piece in isolation from the others, because even seemingly minor details have enormous power to undermine the best efforts of too-narrow thinking.

While readers will learn the conceptual tools and methods of systems thinking, the heart of the book is grander than methodology. Donella Meadows was known as much for nurturing positive outcomes as she was for delving into the science behind global dilemmas. She reminds readers to pay attention to what is important, not just what is quantifiable, to stay humble, and to stay a learner.

In a world growing ever more complicated, crowded, and interdependent, Thinking in Systems helps readers avoid confusion and helplessness, the first step toward finding proactive and effective solutions.

2 editions

Nils Müller liest reviewed Thinking in systems by Donella H. Meadows

Grundlegend, heute aber nur noch Grundlagen

3 stars

Das Buch, das zum ersten Mal Anfang der 1990er Jahre als Entwurf Beachtung fand und erst nach dem Tod der Autorin 2008 erstmalig offiziell veröffentlicht wurde, beschreibt die Grundlagen eines systemischen Denkens aus komplexen Zusammenhängen und Wechselwirkungen. Dabei fokussiert sich die Autorin in erster Linie auf die absoluten Grundlagen und beschreibt insbesondere die Funktionsweise von Regelsystemen mit mehreren In- und Outputs.

Für die "damalige Zeit" war das sicherlich in einigen Bereichen neu, aus heutiger Perspektive liest es sich jedoch sehr vereinfacht und ironischerweise unterkomplex. Mittlerweile ist das Denken über komplexe Systeme einfach bereits wesentlich weiter. Selbst mit Blick auf den Zeitpunkt seines Entstehens scheint mir dieses Buch ein Beispiel dafür zu sein, wie formale Wissenschaften wie Informatik oder VWL Phänomene entdecken, die informelleren Wissenschaften wie z.B. der Soziologie schon lange bekannt sind - und sie dann als Neuheit verkaufen. Als Transferleistung sicherlich zu würdigen, aber eben nicht als revolutionär neue …

paven reviewed Thinking in systems by Donella H. Meadows

Review of 'Thinking in systems' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Inspiring and accessible intro to system thinking and its application across multiple domains.

Claudius Link reviewed Thinking in systems by Donella H. Meadows

Very insightful read

No rating

I'm progressing slowly but there are a ton of quotes and inspiration in the book

Woile reviewed Thinking in systems by Donella H. Meadows

Review of 'Thinking in systems' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Excellent book which gives a new perspective by which to look at societal issues

ustits reviewed Thinking in systems by Donella H. Meadows

Review of 'Thinking in systems' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Gives a new way of looking at things

Ocaña reviewed Thinking in systems by Donella H. Meadows

Aprendiendo sobre pensamiento sistémico

5 stars

Me parece una muy buena introducción, te hace elevar la mirada para empezar a pensar de otra forma

Joshua reviewed Thinking in systems by Donella H. Meadows

Read last year, goal is to reread this year.

No rating

I want to read this a second time, more slowly, and think about how I can apply this to work and maybe other aspects of my life. Really enjoyed it.

jerry@books.infosec.exchange reviewed Thinking in systems by Donella H. Meadows

Another test

5 stars

I did read this book, and while it was interesting, I found it to be pretty basic, though it may be of use to some. This review is mostly to test the instance, though

marksutherland reviewed Thinking in systems by Donella H. Meadows

Review of 'Thinking in systems' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Classic introduction to systems analysis which is uncannily prescient given that it's almost 30 years old. I was surprised how much of my formal education and experience fits within this framework without it being explicitly referenced: analog electronics, computer systems and networks, my layman's understanding of economics. The section on feedback loops and how dynamic behavior can be created from relatively simple models particularly stuck out. I suspect this will be a book I return to regularly and I'm a little frustrated I didn't get round to it sooner.

callan reviewed Thinking in systems by Donella H. Meadows

so appreciative of this book

4 stars

This book is used in a few different classes at mpow, and I’m glad it is. I’m giving a talk on Monday about how leaders are catalysts for change, and I am going to be meditating on a few of the ideas presented here - in particular, the need to break out of our positionality & perspective to change things in a non-destructive manner. It’s very prescient of the time we’re in now, and sad to think about how its warnings have been unheeded by engineers & technologists at a point where we’re more reliant on & worshipping of shitty models than ever.

codito reviewed Thinking in systems by Donella H. Meadows

Review of 'Thinking in systems' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

This book is life changing. Author does an amazing job at explaining the principles to reason over systems in the world around. Learn about the traps that systems fall into and ways to get out.

Sergey Machulskis reviewed Thinking in systems by Donella H. Meadows

Review of 'Thinking in systems' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Short and easy read. I wish it was useful.

From one point of view, it introduces powerful tools for system thinking (stocks, feedback loops, and a couple more) and provides many examples. I like how the author defines all the terms she uses. I like how the book is structured. There're hundreds of well-put sentences.

From another point of view, it could be much shorter. I wish there were better examples, but, I guess, the author wishes it too. I could almost feel her frustration when she tries to find an example that is correct, useful in real life, and is not an oversimplification of some system.

Sometimes it goes straight into politics. I find it disgusting because political problems don't even need any special ways of thinking to be criticized.

steezeburger reviewed Thinking in systems by Donella H. Meadows

Review of 'Thinking in systems' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

I think everyone should read this book. Such good explanations and examples of systems, how systems can go wrong, what to look out for, how to fix them, common misconceptions, etc. If you want to begin thinking about things holistically, this is the place the start.

Deuce reviewed Thinking in systems by Donella H. Meadows

Review of 'Thinking in systems' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

it is really good.
yes, it is idealistic.
yes, it is full of watery food you have no idea how to digest, how to cook.
but some of the ideas JUST HAD to be communicated when I was a kid. when we all were.
more like a framework written long before Dalio with his 'mentalware' became so popular.

Coornail reviewed Thinking in systems by Donella H. Meadows

Review of 'Thinking in systems' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Thinking in Systems gives you a useful new perspective for thinking about complex structures, whether you are an engineer, an economist or just want to understand the world a bit better.